Anti-Claus Carrey set for a green and ghastly Christmas.

FORGET Santa Claus - this year Jim Carrey is the Anti-Claus and he's cancelling Christmas.

The award-winning movie star has squeezed himself into a skin-tight hair suit and spent hours being covered in green make-up to bring one America's favourite characters to the screen.

He's The Grinch, a ghastly, green ghoul who hates the festive season and decides to steal Christmas.

In Los Angeles this week, the Sunday Mail saw the first footage of the film based on the Dr Seuss story How The Grinch Stole Christmas.

The Grinch has been called the role that Jim - who bought the rights a couple of years ago - was born to play.

He said: "The Grinch and all Dr Seuss' fables were very important to me when I was growing up.

"This movie tells us that Christmas is not just about gifts. It's about reaching out with your heart, to people you don't know."

The film, set to be released in December, also stars Christine Baranski from TV's Cybill and six-year-old newcomer Taylor Momsen, who plays Cindy Lou Who, the girl who tries to prove there's good in the Grinch.